Rickettsia:
The Bacteria That Bites!
The Bacteria That Bites!
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever...
is a severe illness that is spread by the bite of a tick infected with Rickettsia rickettsii, a specialized species of Rickettsia.It can be found in regions which ticks or animals with ticks live. The fever is treatable with the use of antibiotics, however the disease can be fatal without treatment.The disease gets its name from the Rocky Mountain area where it was first identified. It can be prevented by:
1. avoiding tick
2. quickly removing attached ticks
3. getting early diagnosis and treatment.
Where can it be found?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is found throughout the United States. Most cases occur in the southeastern United States, few cases are actually reported from the Rocky Mountains.Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be seen in the ticks of American dogs, the lone-star tick, and the wood tick, all of which live in forests and regions with tall grassy fields. The disease is most common in the spring and summer seasons, when ticks are lively and active, but can occur anytime when there is warm weather.
How could one attract it?
People could attract the disease from the bite of a tick infected with Rickettsial. Also the disease can be received by the contamination of the skin with the contents of an attached tick when it is removed from the skin. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can not be spread from one person to another, unless in the rare occasion of a blood transfusion.
What are the signs and symptoms?
People with Rocky Mountain spotted fever will get a fever lasting 2 to 3 weeks, tiredness, a severe headache, chills nausea, deep muscle pain, and a rash. The rash can usually be seen on the legs or arms, the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and can spread rapidly to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually begin 3 to 12 days after a tick bite and the disease needs to be diagnosed by special blood tests.
IMPORTANT
Anyone who is exposed to ticks, tick-infested areas or pets infected with ticks is at risk for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and without prompt medical care, kidney failure and shock can lead to death. Rocky Mountain spotted fever must be treated with antibiotics and should be hospitalized. About 800 people each year in the United States are affected by this disease. Though Rocky Mountain fever isn't a new or emerging infectious disease, because of the seriousness of the disease, continued efforts are needed to encourage prevention and increase awareness.
No vaccine is available to protect against Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The best way to avoid it is to simply avoid areas such as the forests or grassy fields where ticks are found. Otherwise, help with prevention by taking these precautions:
1. avoiding tick
2. quickly removing attached ticks
3. getting early diagnosis and treatment.
Where can it be found?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is found throughout the United States. Most cases occur in the southeastern United States, few cases are actually reported from the Rocky Mountains.Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be seen in the ticks of American dogs, the lone-star tick, and the wood tick, all of which live in forests and regions with tall grassy fields. The disease is most common in the spring and summer seasons, when ticks are lively and active, but can occur anytime when there is warm weather.
How could one attract it?
People could attract the disease from the bite of a tick infected with Rickettsial. Also the disease can be received by the contamination of the skin with the contents of an attached tick when it is removed from the skin. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can not be spread from one person to another, unless in the rare occasion of a blood transfusion.
What are the signs and symptoms?
People with Rocky Mountain spotted fever will get a fever lasting 2 to 3 weeks, tiredness, a severe headache, chills nausea, deep muscle pain, and a rash. The rash can usually be seen on the legs or arms, the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and can spread rapidly to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually begin 3 to 12 days after a tick bite and the disease needs to be diagnosed by special blood tests.
IMPORTANT
Anyone who is exposed to ticks, tick-infested areas or pets infected with ticks is at risk for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and without prompt medical care, kidney failure and shock can lead to death. Rocky Mountain spotted fever must be treated with antibiotics and should be hospitalized. About 800 people each year in the United States are affected by this disease. Though Rocky Mountain fever isn't a new or emerging infectious disease, because of the seriousness of the disease, continued efforts are needed to encourage prevention and increase awareness.
No vaccine is available to protect against Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The best way to avoid it is to simply avoid areas such as the forests or grassy fields where ticks are found. Otherwise, help with prevention by taking these precautions:
- Control the tick population on your property. Keep pets tick-free. Mow grass often in yards and outside fences.
- During outside activities in wooded areas and around tall grass, wear long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks.
- Use insecticides to repel or kill ticks. Repellents containing the compound DEET can be used on exposed skin except for the face, but they do not kill ticks and are not 100% effective in discouraging ticks from biting. Products containing permethrin kill ticks, but they cannot be used on the skin -- only on clothing. When using any of these chemicals, follow label directions carefully. Be especially cautious when using them on children.
- After outdoor activities, check yourself for ticks, and have a "buddy" check you, too. Check body areas where ticks are commonly found: behind the knees, between the fingers and toes, under the arms, in and behind the ears, and on the neck, hairline, and top of the head. Check places where clothing presses on skin.
- Remove attached ticks immediately. Removing a tick before it has been attached for more than 4 hours greatly reduces the risk of infection. Use tweezers, and grab as closely to the skin as possible. Do not handle ticks with bare hands. Do not try to remove ticks by squeezing them, coating them with petroleum jelly, or burning them with a match.
- After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site, and wash your hands. See or call a doctor if you think that tick parts may remain in your skin. If you get a fever, headache, rash, or nausea within 2 weeks of a possible tick bite or exposure, see a doctor right away.
